Commuters in Sant Feliu de Llobregat will soon benefit from a rapid new connection to Barcelona, with the launch of an express bus service set to slash the journey time to Avinguda Diagonal to approximately ten minutes. The new E51 line aims to provide a fast and efficient public transport option for the thousands of residents who travel into the Catalan capital for work and study.
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The service, announced by the Sant Feliu de Llobregat City Council, will handle significant passenger numbers, with a capacity for 140 people during peak hours. Buses will run hourly in both directions throughout the day, offering a consistent and reliable link between the Baix Llobregat town and one of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares.
A Strategic Boost for Commuters
In an official statement, the council described the initiative as a response to a “strategic and planned vision of the city’s mobility, within the framework of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan.” The council aims to create a service that is “faster, more efficient, and adapted to public travel needs,” especially for professional or educational commutes.
The move represents a significant upgrade to the public transport infrastructure connecting the wider metropolitan area. It follows a pattern of enhancements across the region, such as the introduction of the new M15 Metrobus line connecting Barcelona with L’Hospitalet and Cornellà, all overseen by the metropolitan transport authority, the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM).
Route Details and Expanded Coverage
To achieve its swift journey time, the E51 will adopt a hybrid route. Within Sant Feliu, it will follow the existing path of the L51 line before joining the B-23 motorway via the junction at Avinguda del Onze de Setembre for a direct, non-stop journey into Barcelona.
The new service will also improve local connectivity within Sant Feliu itself. The service will extend coverage in the Can Bertrand neighbourhood, a historic industrial and residential area, with the addition of two new stops on Carrer de Joana Raspall. The remaining stops on the route will be the same as those currently served by the L51.
Crucially, the existing L51 service will continue to operate. This ensures that connectivity with the neighbouring towns of Sant Just Desvern and Esplugues de Llobregat remains unaffected. Public transport in Esplugues has also undergone recent adjustments, with bus routes altered to accommodate urban growth.
Integrating the Metropolitan Network
The E51 will provide a vital link not just for Sant Feliu but for the entire Baix Llobregat comarca, a region that has also benefited from other major transport infrastructure projects, including a recent €40.5 million investment for noise barriers along the AP-7 motorway.
By connecting directly to Avinguda Diagonal, a major artery for business, shopping, and transport, the E51 offers residents a valuable alternative to the Rodalies train or driving. This bustling arrival point, recently in the news for the impending closure of the Kare Design store, highlights the avenue’s dynamic commercial landscape.
According to a report by Metrópoli Abierta, the city council declared that with this new line, “Sant Feliu takes a step forward in improving public transport and the quick, direct connection with the Catalan capital.”
